Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:17 pm
Up in the air, that's McDyess
New Pistons forward gets a jump-start on the rest of his career
By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
McDyess
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AUBURN HILLS — The ball caromed high off the back of the rim. As several players jockeyed for position, one soared over them all, caught the ball at nearly its apex and slammed it through the net.
“Dang, Dice,” Rasheed Wallace shouted. “I guess that knee is feeling better.”
Antonio McDyess, 30, a onetime all-star power forward whom the Pistons signed to a four-year, $23 million contract last summer, just nodded and smiled.
The three-time surgically repaired left knee that has limited McDyess for the better part of the last three seasons looked as good as new during an informal scrimmage Thursday. According to McDyess, it has looked and felt good since last spring.
“It’s been a long road,” he said. “I am finally able to just go out and play. No pressure. The leg feels great. I don’t even think about it.”
McDyess, who no longer wears a protective brace, said he worked out hard all summer and never had to take any anti-inflammatory medication.
“I am good to go,” he said.
It’s been a long time since he’s been able to say that and mean it. Not since 2001, when he had to have his first surgery to repair a torn tendon.
He was traded from Denver to New York in 2002 and, in the third exhibition game, suffered a fractured kneecap. That took two surgeries to fix and cost him all of 2002-03 and half of last season.
“When you get injured,” he said, “people tend to write you off.”
That’s more or less what Knicks President Isiah Thomas did to him. McDyess was brought in at a high cost by Thomas’ predecessor, Scott Layden. The Knicks gave up Nene Hilario, Marcus Camby and Mark Jackson for him, and he was anointed as the savior by the New York media.
As such, he was under heavy pressure to get back on the court and produce. He came back too soon, making his Knicks debut against the Pistons last Dec. 1. It was not a pretty sight.
“I had no chance to get my body back in New York,” he said. “I rushed it and it took a toll on me.”
McDyess was unable to perform anywhere near the 16.7-point, 8.7-rebound career standards he had set for himself. And, as the Knicks faltered, McDyess felt as if he was made a scapegoat by Thomas.
“It was like they made everything out to be my fault,” he said at the time. “Once Isiah came, he wouldn’t even look me in the eye. Isiah never said a word to me. He slapped my hand, but that was it.”
Thomas, in one of his first moves, traded McDyess to Phoenix last January. There, McDyess was finally allowed time to heal. By the end of the season, his body and game were rounding back into shape.
Now all those clouds have been lifted. In a Pistons practice jersey Thursday, McDyess looked like a man who’s been relieved of a heavy burden. Smiles came easily. He appeared confident, content — in a sense, reborn.
“I am just so happy to be on this team,” he said. “I get an opportunity to play with (longtime friend) Chauncey Billups. We talked the whole summer. I get an opportunity to play for Coach (Larry Brown) again. I just feel like this is the right situation for me.”
There are no grand expectations for him here. He isn’t the savior. He doesn’t have to carry the team. The Pistons would be greatly pleased if, as the first big man off the bench, he can contribute a solid 25 minutes a night in relief of Ben and Rasheed Wallace.
“I don’t need to put any pressure on myself anymore,” McDyess said. “I have worked hard and I feel I am back. I don’t need no starting job. I don’t need to be the man. I just want to be a part of something.
“You know, they had great chemistry here last year and they rode it all the way to a championship. For me, to be able to come in here and play a role, I am happy and thrilled about that.”
Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:43 pm
Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:47 pm
Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:04 pm
Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:12 pm
Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:17 pm
Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:34 pm
Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:08 pm
Sit wrote:For knicks fans... at least he had those good exhibition games!
Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:21 pm
Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:27 pm
Amphatoast wrote:ya he had many of wondering if we could of went deep in the playoffs with those monster games..oh well, its marbury turn now
Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:27 am
cklitsie wrote:ugh, as a knicks fan, i hate him now
he never did anything for us
Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:45 pm
Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:49 pm
Matt wrote:I'm still weary of the Detroit PF position. At this point in time the starting lineup will be Wallace and Wallace with McDyess being #1 off the bench. But who's behind McDyess? Last season it was Okur as the bench guy and Williamson would play some PF as well, but he's gone and replaced by Dupree who is a Sf and can't play PF. That would leave Milicic behind McDyess and I'm not sure if he's ready. Campbell will likely be stored on the cupboard until he's reopened come Playoffs. At this point in time DC's fate is unknown
Hey I just realised that Detroit has 3 former All-Star PF's. Rasheed, McDyess, DC. Not bad
Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:57 pm
Tue Oct 05, 2004 6:11 pm
Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:47 pm
Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:13 pm
Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:22 pm
DipSetVC wrote:McDyess will always be remembered as Shawn Kemp Version 2.0.
Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:24 pm
throwbackeckotl wrote:Knicks just signed him at the wrong time
Wed Oct 06, 2004 2:51 pm
throwbackeckotl wrote:DipSetVC wrote:McDyess will always be remembered as Shawn Kemp Version 2.0.
what the hell!!!
now McDyess isnt a fat,overweight drug addict
he just had injuries
that was stupid
Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:41 pm
Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:32 am
Andrew wrote:throwbackeckotl wrote:DipSetVC wrote:McDyess will always be remembered as Shawn Kemp Version 2.0.
what the hell!!!
now McDyess isnt a fat,overweight drug addict
he just had injuries
that was stupid
McDyess was compared to Kemp when he entered the league - at the time, Kemp was in shape and was one of the top forwards in the league, and similarities were apparent. Their decline has come about differently, but for a while there Dice certainly resembled the Reignman.
Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:42 am
DipSetVC wrote:Andrew wrote:throwbackeckotl wrote:DipSetVC wrote:McDyess will always be remembered as Shawn Kemp Version 2.0.
what the hell!!!
now McDyess isnt a fat,overweight drug addict
he just had injuries
that was stupid
McDyess was compared to Kemp when he entered the league - at the time, Kemp was in shape and was one of the top forwards in the league, and similarities were apparent. Their decline has come about differently, but for a while there Dice certainly resembled the Reignman.
Thank you Andrew, I really don't enjoy talking basketball with Noobs. Thanks for stepping in.
Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:49 am
Thu Oct 07, 2004 7:04 am